World Iraqi officials: At least 13 wounded in violence in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces fired tear gas and live rounds during clashes with anti-government protesters overnight and on Monday morning in Baghdad, wounding at least 13 demonstrators and prompting authorities to close key streets and thoroughfares leading to the city center, officials said.

Trump says Soleimani was plotting attacks on four US embassies

President Trump said in an interview airing Friday that Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was plotting attacks against four embassies before the U.S. carried out last week's airstrike that killed the top commander. © Getty Images Trump says Soleimani was plotting attacks on four US embassies "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump told Laura Ingraham during an interview on Fox News that will air in full Friday night. The president also said Soleimani was targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, repeating a claim he made on Thursday.

Iraqi security forces also used live rounds, wounding over a dozen protesters, medical and security officials said, in continuing violence as anti-government On Sunday, protesters in Baghdad and southern Iraq burned tires, blocking main streets. Clashes in Baghdad wounded at least 27 people.

Published November 27, 2013. Last Update January 13 , 2015. Iraqi officials say separate attacks Gunmen also killed a civilian and wounded three others when they opened fire on a crowd in the Violence in Iraq has been on rise since April when the government launched a bloody crackdown on

The violence is the latest since protests in Iraq reignited last week after a brief lull amid soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran following a U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad earlier this month. 

The tear gas and live rounds were fired near the city's Sinak Bridge and nearby Tayaran Square, which have been the scene of violence in recent days, medical and security officials said.

As smoke rose over the city from the tear gas, tuk-tuks ferried the injured to hospitals.

A security official said at least nine arrests have been made so far after the National Security Council authorized security forces to arrest demonstrators seen blocking main thoroughfares and roundabouts.

Trump tells Fox News' Laura Ingraham 'four embassies' were targeted in imminent threat from Iran

President Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham in an exclusive interview Friday that the imminent threat from Iran that provoked the United States to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani involved planned attacks on four U.S. embassies. Asked specifically what was targeted, Trump revealed: “We will tell you that probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad.”Pressed on whether large-scale attacks were planned for other embassies, the president said: “I can reveal that I believe it probably would’ve been four embassies.”The full interview with the president will air Friday night at 10 p.m. ET on Fox News' “The Ingraham Angle.

At least 125 people are killed and many more injured in an explosion claimed by the Islamic State group in Baghdad , Iraqi police say. One senior Iraqi official warned that the death toll could rise still further. The US said on Sunday that the latest attack strengthened its resolve to support Iraqi forces

At least 15 more Iraqi protesters were killed on Saturday in clashes with security forces, as thousands took part in nationwide anti-government protests. Four people were killed after being struck directly in the head by tear gas canisters fired by security forces in Baghdad , with dozens more wounded .

The U.N. envoy to Iraq, meanwhile, urged Iraqi political elites to resume pushing for reforms and for protests to remain peaceful.

“Any steps taken so far to address the people’s concerns will remain hollow, if they are not completed," said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in a statement issued by the U.N. “Violent suppression of peaceful protesters is intolerable and must be avoided at all costs. Nothing is more damaging than a climate of fear."

Video provided by AFP

In the southern city of Nasiriyah, protesters blocked the highway linking the city to the southern oil-rich province of Basra. At least six protesters were wounded when an unknown gunmen fired at them from a speeding car, a medical official said. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.

On Sunday, protesters in Baghdad and southern Iraq burned tires, blocking main streets. Clashes in Baghdad wounded at least 27 people. Iraqi activists gave the government a week's deadline to act on their demands for sweeping political reforms or said they would up the pressure with new demonstrations.

The uprising began on Oct. 1 when thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to decry rampant government corruption, poor public services and a scarcity of jobs. Protesters are demanding an end to Iraq's sectarian political system, alongside early elections and the stepping aside of its ruling elite.

Since the protests first erupted in October, at least 500 have died under fire from security forces.

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Associated Press writer Murtada Faraj in Baghdad contributed to this report.